H.R. 3074 Would Let States Cull Cormorants at Will

Dear Friend,

We need your help to defeat a bill that flies in the face of true conservation: "The Cormorant Management and Natural Resources Act" (H.R. 3074).

Introduced by Rep. John Kline (R-MN), the bill would amend the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to allow states to kill large populations of double-crested cormorants (DCCOs) mainly because of the misguided belief that they are "eating all the fish."

There is ample research that shows DCCOs rarely have much effect on any fish stocks at all. In fact, DCCOs actually benefit fish stocks, weeding out the unfit, and preying on predators or alien species such as the round goby. DCCOs also often are instrumental in helping to make soil suitable for vegetation.

The double-crested cormorant is a highly migratory species, is the responsibility of several countries, and has been proven to be very vulnerable to persecution.

On March 29, Born Free USA attended the Congressional House Subcommittee hearing on this bill. H.R. 3074 is opposed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials, conservationists and some state wildlife departments. In the name of compassionate and scientifically valid conservation, we oppose it, too!